“Atlas Shrugged” opens in New York City, which is in complete disarray. The city is experiencing urban decay, and is in the midst of worsening economic conditions. While a Communist government is running the country, productive workers and business owners are abandoning their jobs and disappearing. As productive members of the business community disappear, political parasites and freeloaders continue to live off of the few industrious citizens who still work, and support them on their shoulders.
In the first part of the novel, there are still a few businesses that keep the weakened communist system from failing. Taggart Transcontinental is a publicly traded railroad that has Jim Taggart serving as President. Even though Jim is the company president, the business is actually run by his sister, Dagny Taggart, who is a staunch capitalist. After part of the railroad collapses, Dagny sets out to rebuild it using an alloy that is lighter and stronger than steel from Reardon Steel, which is owned by Hank Reardon. Hank, like Dagny, is also a staunch capitalist. The newly rebuilt rail line is going to connect the rest of the country to Wyatt Oil of Colorado, which is the only flourishing industrial portion of America. Dagny, Hank, and Wyatt team up to preserve productivity in the nation’s economy, so their businesses will survive. The government, however, views the team as selfish and greedy.
In spite of government resistance, the new line is completed and has a successful first run. Dagny defiantly names it the John Galt line, after the first big industrialist to disappear. The new line quickly becomes a huge success. Dagny and Hank fall in love, even though hank is married. While vacationing together, Dagny and Hank discover a revolutionary motor that runs on static electricity. The motor is found in an abandoned factory, so they try to find the inventor. Unable to find the inventor of the motor, they hire an up and coming physicist named Daniels to finish the motor.
In an effort to make it so other businesses can compete with the team, the government passes a new communist law of equal opportunity. The new legislation forces successful businesses to reduce their production, and cripples industry in Colorado. This new legislation devastates Dagny, Hank, and Wyatt financially. Wyatt, like many other industrialists, disappears. Before disappearing, Wyatt burns down his refinery to protest the government’s actions.
"Atlas Shrugged" Story Line - Part 1 of 3
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